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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Probe papers on cartoonist Zunar’s case almost ready

The investigation papers on controversial political cartoonist Zunar, who held an exhibition at Komtar, George Town, last Friday are almost completed after police recorded statements from seven individuals.

Penang police chief Abdul Ghafar Rajab said he had ordered that the investigation papers be completed soonest possible to be submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“I believe the investigation papers will be ready soon,” he told reporters after the handing-over of duty of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief in George Town, today.

SAC Zainol Samah, 51, has been appointed as Penang police CID head, effective today. He replaces Razarudin Husain, 54, who has been promoted as Sabah deputy police commissioner.

Zainol was previously Dang Wangi district police chief.

Last Saturday, Zunar or his real name Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, was detained by police to assist in the investigation over his caricature exhibition which was disrupted by a group of Penang Umno Youth members led by their division wing head, Rafizal Abdul Rahim.

According to Rafizal, the cartoons drawn by Zunar had insulted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, and police seized Zunar’s cartoon pieces put up at the exhibition in Komtar to facilitate the investigation.

Asked on the setting up of the Voluntary Patrol Body (PBS) by the Penang state government, Abdul Ghafar said a report on the matter had been sent to Bukit Aman (federal police) for further action.

“I think, let the inspector-general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar, make the announcement or decision on the matter,” he said.

BPS was launched on Nov 12 and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that he would meet with the Home Ministry to discuss the newly-established patrol body.

The body was formed under the state’s village development and security committees. To date, it involves 40 areas in Penang with over 600 registered members.